Monday, July 11, 2016

Liz O'Brien Editions

It's not often that I find a furniture collection that altogether suits me to a T, but such is the case with Liz O'Brien Editions, the brainchild of noted twentieth-century furniture dealer, Liz O'Brien. An updated interpretation of classic American design, the collection is evocative of the golden age of American decoration. As I recently perused the collection at the Travis & Company showroom, I felt as though my favorite legendary decorators were lurking in my midst. There are side chairs that are so Frances Elkins, they bear her name, while a chic waterfall table, wrapped in a snappy fabric and lacquered, is the kind of cocktail table that Billy Baldwin might have used in his clients' Park Avenue apartments. And a stylishly simple wooden chair, embellished handsomely with a hand-painted, faux-agate finish by Alpha Workshops, would have looked quite at home in Albert Hadley's own home.

Although the Editions collection might be rooted in the American classics, don't for one minute think that it's an exercise in nostalgia. The collection feels so right for today; it's stylish, fresh, and, most important, timeless. Five years from now, you'll likely grow tired of that Restoration Hardware table you just purchased, but I can't imagine that you'll ever lose interest in an Editions piece. And the other thing I must point out is the line's high quality. The finishes, such as cerused, hand-painted, or lacquered, are superb, while the well thought-out details only add to the pieces' allure.

The collection can be viewed at Liz's Upper East Side shop, on her website, or at the Travis & Company showroom at ADAC Atlanta, where the collection has garnered rave reviews.

The Pamela Sofa, which is displayed beneath the Mark Shaw photograph. The serpentine stretcher and curvy legs (which are hand-carved) are elegant details.

The Arabesque Card Table, seen here with a Persimmon high-gloss cerused finish, is joined by a pair of Frances Side Chairs.

The Madeleine Slipper Chair.

Custom Waterfall Linen Wrapped Coffee Table, seen here covered in a Lisa Fine fabric. (Travis & Company also represents Lisa Fine fabrics, which is another favorite of mine.)

Alpha Workshops panel chair, painted with a faux-agate finish. Available in other finishes as well.

One favorite piece of mine is the Hilton Table, which is wrapped in fabric (here, in Travertine Beige fabric) and then treated to a durable, high-gloss finish. And I'm mad- and I mean really mad- for the mini-hurricanes, which are also part of Liz's collection.

The Madeleine Lounge Chair, which I'm also crazy about. It's very comfortable, too.

Frances Armchair

The Two Door Cabinet has painted paneled-doors.

The centerpiece of this vignette is the Jayne Sofa, with its fabulous brush-fringe trim. To the left of the sofa is the Evelyn Wing Chair, while to the right is the Billy Lounge Chair and Ottoman (see below.)